712
FXUS65 KMSO 221856
AFDMSO
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MISSOULA MT
1256 PM MDT MON JUN 22 2026
DISCUSSION
KEY MESSAGES:
- ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TODAY.
- WARMING AND DRYING TREND THIS WEEK, ESPECIALLY FOR NORTH-
CENTRAL IDAHO.
- COOLER AND WET CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS COMING WEEKEND.
TODAY (MONDAY), THE LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER ALBERTA HAS ALREADY
PRODUCED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND GENERALLY
MOVE WEST TO EAST ACROSS WESTERN MONTANA, MAINLY FOR LOCATIONS
NORTH OF INTERSTATE 90.
A WARMING AND DRYING TREND IS STILL EXPECTED FOR TUESDAY THROUGH
THURSDAY, BUT THE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AS
STRONG AS PREVIOUS FORECASTS. THE WARMEST AND DRIEST CONDITIONS
WILL BE FOR NORTH-CENTRAL IDAHO, WHERE TEMPERATURES WILL TOP OUT
IN THE MID TO UPPER 90S FOR ELEVATIONS BELOW 3,000 FEET. A FEW
WEAK WEATHER SYSTEMS WILL PASS THROUGH THE RIDGE, BRINGING SOME
CLOUD COVER AND A FEW SHOWERS, KEEPING TEMPERATURES SLIGHTLY
COOLER THAN PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED ACROSS WESTERN MONTANA.
TEMPERATURES WILL STILL BE A FEW DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE.
A COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS WEEKEND'S LOW-PRESSURE SYSTEM
WILL MOVE THROUGH THE NORTHERN ROCKIES ON FRIDAY. THEN, THE LOW-
PRESSURE WILL SETTLE OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND NORTHERN
ROCKIES DURING THE WEEKEND, CAUSING WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION AND
MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES. AFTERNOON HIGHS WILL RUN 20 OR MORE
DEGREES BELOW AVERAGE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. AS THE LOW SPINS OVER
WESTERN MONTANA, SNOW LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO DROP TO AROUND 6,500
TO 7,000 FEET BY SUNDAY AND MONDAY MORNINGS. IF YOU HAVE PLANS TO
RECREATE IN THE BACKCOUNTRY THIS WEEKEND, PLAN FOR VERY WET AND
COLD CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE AND IN
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK. IF POSSIBLE, CONSIDER POSTPONING YOUR
BACKCOUNTRY TRIPS.
WHILE FORECAST CONFIDENCE REMAINS HIGH FOR A SHIFT TO COOLER AND
WETTER CONDITIONS, PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS CONTINUE TO VARY DAY TO
DAY. CURRENTLY, THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO FEATURES TOTALS RANGING
FROM 1 TO 2 INCHES FOR THE TERRAIN ALONG THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE,
AND 0.50 TO 1 INCH FOR LOCATIONS ALONG AND WEST OF THE HIGHWAY 93
CORRIDOR. STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST FORECAST UPDATES.
AVIATION
A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVING EASTWARD ALONG THE USA-CANADA BORDER
IS TRIGGERING SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AND NORTH
OF THE I-90 CORRIDOR IN NORTHWEST MONTANA. THUNDERSTORMS WILL
FOCUS ALONG AND EAST OF THE US-93 CORRIDOR THROUGH 22/2200Z, WITH
ACTIVITY MOVING EAST OF THE DIVIDE THEREAFTER. LIGHTNING AND BRIEF
MODERATE RAIN ARE THE PRIMARY STORM THREATS. NORTH-NORTHWEST
WINDS WILL STRENGTHEN BY MID AFTERNOON, WITH GUSTS OF 15-25KTS
ACROSS SOUTHWEST MONTANA AND LEMHI COUNTY. SKIES WILL CLEAR THIS
EVENING INTO TUESDAY MORNING AS HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES INTO THE
REGION.
MSO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
MT...NONE.
ID...NONE.
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